OUT TO PASTOR: Nothing is more satisfying than doing nothing

We were facing Hurricane Milton, and everything was being shut down. Milton was to hit us on a Wednesday night. Because we were in the center of where it was supposed to come, we were not allowed to get out and drive on the streets. 

I knew I had to finish all my work by Tuesday in case we lost electricity. I had radio programs to record and write my syndicated newspaper column.

With due diligence, I got everything done by Tuesday afternoon. We still had electricity, so I was able to email my radio programs and newspaper column.

I’ve never done something like this before, but I did all my week’s work on Monday and Tuesday. When I woke up Wednesday morning, I realized that I had nothing to do. All of the work for the week had already been finished, and I had nothing more to do.

Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.

I’m the kind of person that likes to work every day. I go to my office every day and work and work and work. That’s my MO. I like nothing better than working.

Now, I had the rest of the week with nothing to do. I suppose I could’ve continued working on one of my writing projects or read some books I was working on, but I had a little butterfly thought floating in my head.

What would it be like if I had nothing to do?

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage worked in her craft room, and was busy with her projects. Even if the electricity went out, she had something to do in her room.

I could’ve gone to my office, sat before my computer, and done some work.

But, what if I just spent the next three days doing nothing?

At one time, that would’ve been a terrible thought for me. But now I’m beginning to like that thought.

Having never done nothing before, I couldn’t figure out how to do it or how to plan my day. I’m pretty good at planning my day, but then I realized that if I’m going to do nothing, there is nothing to plan.

I did think about asking The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage how I should plan my nothing days. As I thought about that, I realized she would tell me what to do, and then I would have something to do rather than nothing.

As I was planning my “Nothing Days,” I realized that I couldn’t think because that would be something.

Oh boy, it is hard work to do nothing.

When I got up Wednesday morning, it started to rain, and there was a wind outside, so I decided to wear my pajamas all day. If I had changed into my daily pants and shirt, that would have been doing something, and I didn’t want to do anything.

I walked out to the kitchen where The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage was doing something. She was making breakfast.

She asked me, “Are you going to wear your pajamas all day?”

I looked back at her and said, “I have nothing to say.”

Thus began my first day of doing nothing.

Without even thinking about it, I ate my breakfast and wobbled my way to my easy chair to sit down and continue doing nothing.

“Do you have any plans for today?” My wife asked.

“I have nothing to say.”

She looked at me rather strangely and then walked back to her craft room to begin her projects for the day, whatever it was.

I just sat on my easy chair, leaned back, and enjoyed the moment.

One thing I’ve learned about these “Doing Nothing Days” is that they’re very easy to start. Nothing demands that I do nothing, and I am unanimous in that.

I didn’t even look at my watch because that would be doing something. And if I’m doing nothing, why must I know what time it is?

I enjoyed three splendid days of doing nothing.

By Friday, the hurricane was out of our area, but there were still driving restrictions because of some damage. But the hurricane was over; therefore, my days of doing nothing were ending, and I would soon be back doing something.

When I was in my easy chair, I tried hard not to think because that was doing something. But Friday morning, I could think a little and look back over those days with great appreciation.

I’ve learned that there comes a time when I should set aside a day to do nothing. Maybe we should have a national Do-Nothing Day. I would recommend one restriction: everybody would be able to pick the day they would do nothing. I think that would go a long way in benefiting our country today.

I reflected on Colossians 3:23, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone is (352) 216-3025, e-mail is jamessnyder51@gmail.com, and website is www.jamessnyderministries.com